We invite you to come on a wildlife viewing auto tour with us on January 16! RSVP below.
Rain Date Note:
If there is heavy rain predicted, we will change the date to Saturday, 1/30. For those who have RSVP’d, we will contact you via email a couple days in advance to let you know if this is decided.
Details:
Please carpool if you are able.
We will meet at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 8:30 am, where there are restrooms.
We will start on the 6-mile Auto Tour as a caravan by 9 am, or once all expected members arrive. View Auto Tour map below.
CNCV will pay for your entrance fee ($6/vehicle). If you have a valid Federal Duck Stamp or American the Beautiful Pass, bring that for a waived entrance fee.
There are three Park-and-Stretch areas where we can stop, stretch, and visit. The second Park-and-Stretch area also has restrooms and an Observation Deck.
Once we've completed the tour, we will reconvene at the Visitors Center for a visit.
For those wanting to extend the day, there are 2 miles of walking trails (north side is ADA accessible).
What to Bring: binoculars, water, snacks, gas in your tank, and good walking shoes if you plan to walk after.
If you do not have binoculars and would like a reasonably priced set, CNCV has budgeted to provide a limited amount. Please indicate below if you want to partake and we will do our best to accommodate.
Typical viewing in January: during the winter, thousands of migratory birds, mostly waterfowl, can be seen feeding and resting along the Auto Tour. Typically, waterfowl counts average 995,000 and 100% of the wetlands are flooded.
Driving Directions to Sacramento NWR Headquarters and Visitor Center:
Traveling north or south on I-5:
Exit at Road 68 (9.1 miles north of Maxwell, or 8.3 miles south of Willows)
Go north on Hwy 99W (1.7 miles)
Turn right into Sacramento NWR
Follow signs to Visitor Parking
Rules on the Auto Tour:
The Speed Limit is 15 mph.
Visitors must remain inside their vehicles on the Auto Tour unless they are in designated Park-and-Stretch areas. We don't want to startle the wildlife.
Visitors must remain seated with seatbelts fastened when their vehicle is in motion (no hanging out of windows or standing out of a sunroof when moving).
Vehicles may not park or travel in the wrong direction (Auto Tour is one-way).
Walking along the Auto Tour is prohibited.
Dogs are permitted but must remain in the vehicle, except at Park-and-Stretch areas where they must be on leash.
Drones are prohibited.
Be careful - stay on the gravel! Road edges can be soft and your vehicle can get stuck or start a fire from dry vegetation if you leave the gravel surface.
